Breakfast for Dinner at The Playground

Tuesday,  May 23, 2017

The Playgound restaurant in downtown Santa Ana decided to do another breakfast dinner. I had done one there last year and thoroughly enjoyed it.   www.playgrounddtsa.com,  This was held in the 2.0 room that holds 18 people. Everything is cooked and plated in front of you.  Went with 4 others and had a great time. 13 courses paired with wine. I loved every dish except one. The Pea Tendril Fritatta. I like pea tendrils and order them in Asian restaurants but for some reason the taste in the Fritatta turned me off.

Started off with "Bryan Voltaggio" biscuits and gravy. Thin biscuit with holes to absorb the wild mushroom gravy. and a bellini.  Apricot and vanilla bellini made with Absinthe wash and Champlou Vouvray Brut. Quite tasty and refreshing.  Gravy was decadent.

Cured ocean trout, smoked egg aioli, spicy bagel chips. Devoured the trout (similar to salmon) and the aioli was a perfect match This and a Sourdough pancake with ricotta and peas was paired with a 2016 Jolie-Laide, Rorick Heritage Vineyard Pinot Gris.  Again the pancake was excellent. I have a hard time finding fault in any dish they Playground males. But it does happen at times.

Red and yellow beets with a maple yogurt, granola and frisee. Their take on yogurt with fruit. Beets were sweet and the maple yogurt was to die for.

Doushy hash browns with creme fraiche. Shredded potatoes, deep fried and then molded  into a "rectangle" and fried again.

A 2015 Cruse Wine Co, Rorick Hertitage Vineyard Chardonnay was poured. So with several dishes I went went back and forth between the Pinot Gris and the Chardonnay.

Grilled slab bacon, adult apple sauce. Had a punch to it and you can never go wrong with bacon.

Next was my "do not like" dish. A pea tendril fritatta. Just could not get into it.

White cheddar grits, (really decadent) with smoked tomato butter and shrimp with cornbread crumble. Taste was really "up there".  One of my favorites of the evening.  

A 2016 Arnot-Roberst, North Coast Trousseau Noir was served along with a 2004 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonto.  Both red wines to finish out the dinner.

Chicken Chillaquilles were some of the best I have ever had.

Steak and Eggs was served. Thin slices of Wagu beef, egg, Blumental cheese and a Chimmichurri sauce. A bit of a bite but so good.

A plate of jumbo grilled asparagus with a dynamite Hollandaise sauce.

Desserts were Brulled grapefuit with whipped cream and a French toast, vanilla ice cream, banana, caramel, white chocolate and macadamian nut concoction.  What can I say. The bread was house made, the grapefuit was like candy.  

A Domaine Dupont, Cuvee Colette, traditional method Cider was paired . 

Dinner was excellent. A couple of the wines were not to my taste but you go with the flow. Everything is house made. They do not use "packaged" items.  Dishes are set up for 3 people to share.  You never get shorted because you take smaller portions. There is a lot of food and toward the end of the meal you are full.  And you can take the leftovers home which makes it nice.

Looking forward to a new "theme" in a couple of weeks - Hugh Brow White Trash Food. I have my ticket for that already